“Few things are more important to me than my name and reputation. This might call that into question for some, which has me heartbroken,” Ninkovich told ESPN. “I don’t want to cut any corners. I want to do things the right way, with high integrity, and that’s what I have always wanted to stand for.”

Ninkovich, 32, has played in 116 straight games for the Patriots since signing with the team as a free agent in August of 2009.

“Any supplement I’ve ever used was bought at a store. I was unaware something I bought had a substance in it that would give me a positive test because it wasn’t listed [as an ingredient],” he told ESPN. “One thing I have learned is that if a supplement is not NSF certified there are no regulations that ensure that what is on the label is 100 percent accurate. That is a hard lesson for me to learn at this stage in my career, but I take responsibility for it. It’s a mistake I made and it hurts that I won’t be there for my teammates.”

Ninkovich's failed test occurred mid-summer. As Ninkovich told ESPN, another source is adamant it was an over-the-counter supplement.

I’m sure that in a few days that we will hear that it was all the fault of some assistant locker room attendant (perhaps nicknamed “The Performance Enhancer” or something). Or some rogue videographer sitting in the wrong section of the stadium.